Winters Flat Primary School
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3 Roberts Ave
Castlemaine VIC 3450
Subscribe: https://wintersflatps.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe

Email: winters.flat.ps@education.vic.gov.au
Phone: 03 5472 1522

FLAT CHAT | 5th February 2020

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FLAT CHAT | 5th February 2020

Dear Winters Flat Community,

Welcome back to everyone for the 2020 school year. Last week we had some scorchers but students and teachers managed the heat remarkably well and began the new school year on a very positive note. Thursday we met the Preps of 2020 and welcomed them to the Winters Flat community at Monday’s assembly. This edition of Flat Chat is a whopper with quite a few diary dates, the first being next Wednesday’s barbecue.

Staffing 2020

P/1J

Fiona Johnson

1/2A

Bianca Alvarez Harris

2/3W

Helen Weir

4/5H

Marie Harris

4/5/L

Keenan Lucas

6BM

Karen Brooks & Sam Milner

Visual Arts

Jennifer Thoma

PE

Sam Milner

French

Katie Kilgour

Performing Arts

Suzanne Kinnersly

Office

Karen Mahoney & Renae Wilson

SAKG

Jane Grylls & Terry Willis

Student Support

Marg Stevens, Morgan Sherry, Bronwyn Tracey & Anne Neath

Welfare Officer

Belle Ganglmair

ICT Support

Ben Colla

Chess

Harry Poulton (volunteer)

We have had some staffing changes since our end of year announcements. Marie Harris is teaching 4/5H in the Senior Learning Community and is settling in to her new teaching role.

Jennifer Thoma will now be teaching Visual Arts as a weekly specialist subject.

We welcome Belle Ganglmair as our new chaplain/wellbeing coordinator. Please introduce yourself to Belle and ensure you have completed and returned the consent forms sent home last week. We wish Peta Firth every success as she spends 12 months teaching Maths/Science at Castlemaine Secondary College.

Welcome back! Sausage Sizzle/Picnic – 5.00pm – 6.30pm next Wednesday 12th February

An event for all families to re-connect after the summer break. We will have sausages and vegie burgers available and encourage families to bring picnic food to share. For catering purposes we have sent home a slip this afternoon. Please complete and submit by this Friday 7th February.

New Modular Buildings

We are still scheduled to receive two new modular buildings to replace Oakview and the art room with demolition scheduled during the Easter break and the expectation that both will be completed for the commencement of Term 3. We are currently decanting equipment from the existing spaces and would appreciate any assistance with moving things in the coming weeks. 

Lunches

A reminder to ensure your children have enough to eat at school. We suggest some fruit for 10.00am Munch and Crunch, a healthy snack for 11.00am and a balanced healthy lunch for 1.25pm. Some ideas at 50 Fun School lunch ideas.

Assemblies

Assemblies will continue to occur fortnightly on Mondays in even weeks. During Term 1 we will meet first thing in the morning on The Deck. Our first assembly was presented on Monday by our 2020 school captains. We will work out an assembly schedule for Term 2 once we have confirmation of the Oakview demolition schedule.

School Captains 2020

Captains: Millie Karimi Sarab and Iestyn Cotterell

Vice-Captains: Lila Duthie and Louis Wood

Chess 2020 - Thursdays

Harry Poulton will continue to offer the chess program here at Winters Flat on Thursdays in 2020. Harry volunteers his time to coach chess and we are grateful that he is able to continue with the program this year.

Prep – Year 6 Information Evening and Open Classrooms 20th February

Our information evening and open classrooms will take place on Thursday 20th February. We will begin on the deck at 5.00pm with some announcements before families go to their children’s classrooms to meet this year’s teacher.

Prep – Year 3 Meet and Greet Interviews 27th February

On Thursday 27th February you will have the opportunity to meet with teachers to talk about the individual needs of your child. We have attached a questionnaire to guide the conversation, with the expectation that this is an opportunity for parents and carers to meet the 2020 teacher or re-connect if they are continuing from 2019.

Year 4 – Year 6 Meet and Greet Interviews 5th March

Once again on Thursday 5th March you will have the opportunity to meet with teachers from Years 4-6 to talk about the individual needs of your child. Again this is an opportunity for parents and carers in the Senior Learning Community to meet the 2020 teacher and re-connect if they are continuing from 2019.

Mango Drive

Congratulations to the Frost family for selling the most trays of mangoes during our end of year mango drive!

Committees, Volunteers and School Council

This year we are once again inviting parents and carers to consider joining one of the School Council sub committees here at Winters Flat. We have vacancies in:

  • Buildings and Grounds
  • Fundraising
  • School Community engagement
  • Sustainability
  • Wellbeing

If you have an interest in joining any of these committees please complete the attached Volunteers form, email winters.flat.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au or phone: 5472 1522. It is not necessary to be on council to participate. Thanks to those who have already expressed interest. We will send out a meeting schedule as soon as possible. School Council elections will be held in March and there are a number of vacancies for parents/carers.

Volunteers are welcome in every classroom as well as the Kitchen/Garden and specialist. If you have the time and inclination please let us know.

2020 Collection Statement

Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy.

Please take time to remind yourself of the school’s collection statement, found on our website.

For more information about privacy, see: Schools’ Privacy Policy – information for parents. This information is also available in nine community languages.

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Suzanne Kinnersly

Principal

Welcome back to Term 1 and a special welcome to new families to the school. The office is your first point of call when you have questions. Karen Mahoney is the business manager and works full time in the office. Renae Wilson is administration support and works Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

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CSEF

Any new parents who hold a health care card are eligible to apply for the Camps, Sports and Excursion fund (CSEF). Eligibility on card must be 28/01/2020 or before that date. You will receive $125 for the year for each student eligible and you are able to use this money to pay for excursions, camps and sporting events. Any existing families who have had this fund in the past will automatically roll over for this year.

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Fees and voluntary levies

Prep-1- $70 for stationery
Your child will receive stationery in the classroom and this will be given out during the year as needed. This includes all work books, pencils, reader books, copy paper.


Grade 2-6- $180 in total.
$80 for Stationery - your child will receive stationery in the classroom and this will be given out during the year as needed. This includes all work books, pencils, reader books, copy paper and internet safety license.

$100 for Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program($25 per term)- this covers cooking ingredients and garden items such as gardening gloves for the students.

Voluntary levies

These levies are Grounds Maintenance $80 per family and $50 to the Building Fund (which are fully tax deductible).
We have very large playgrounds and we must be vigilant to keep these mowed and cleaned up for bushfire and wildlife threats. Extra money really helps us in maintaining the grounds to the level that keeps students safe.
The building fund is a tax deductible account whereby we use this money to make repairs to our buildings or buy additional items that our normal budget will not stretch.

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Hats and uniforms

We keep a supply of hats at the office to purchase. It is compulsory for hats to be worn from September to May.
Other uniform items can be purchased at the Beleza shop in town (the old JM Leech building) Barker Street on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays from 10am to 5pm and Saturday mornings from 10 am til 1.00pm. We also carry some second hand items that can be purchased from the office.

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Camps and excursions

It is a camp year so students from Grade 2 onwards will be going on camp. It is highly recommended students attend as it strengthens their relationships with their peers and they have a great time!
Various excursions will occur during the year including sports excursions, you will be notified about these at the time.
The camps that are planned for this year are:
Prep/1 – Term 4, the Preps will have a dinner at school while the Grade 1 students will sleepover at school. Cost to be advised.
Grade 2/3 students will attend the Campaspe Downs camp at Kyneton on 24th & 25th March. Cost to be advised.
Grade 4/5/6 students will attend the Marysville Camp in Term 3. Cost to be advised
Swimming Program – this will run again this year and it is expected that students attend as it is part of the physical education program. More information to follow.

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Sushi Fridays

Sushi will be back again this year, starting next week. There are some changes in the way in which students/families will order. We will be using the School Lunch Online web based ordering system www.schoollunchonline.com.au to order the sushi. The cost of each sushi roll will now be $3.30 to cover the cost of the administration for the website. A note will be sent home next week with more information.

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Volunteering

If you can help out in any way in our school community, please fill out the attached form and hand it in to the office.

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Parent/teacher interviews

Parent/Teacher Interviews will be held this term on Thursday February 27th for P-3 and Thursday March 5th for 4-6 students. All bookings to be made through XUNO. Any enquiries, please contact us in the office.

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For sale

We currently have our canvas bags ($10) and some drink bottles ($2) for sale in the office if anyone wishes to purchase these.

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Mango Fundraiser 

Thank you to everyone who got involved and ordered mangoes last year. We hope they were delicious! A big congratulations to the Frost family who sold the most trays. A $100 Stoneman's Bookroom voucher is at the office awaiting your collection.

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Please find attached Chaplain consent form to be returned back to the office.
Also attached is some information on the Corona virus.

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Looking forward to seeing you all this year.

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Karen Mahoney & Renae Wilson

Office

THIS WEEK IN THE KITCHEN & GARDEN...

What we're cooking in the kitchen this week...

Rosemary Lavosh

Zucchini Rosti with Horseradish sour cream

Sautéed greens

Seasonal fruit muffin (blueberry)

Spaghetti with parmesan, lemon and basil

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Remember, all our recipes are available on our school website, so you can try them at home.

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And what we're harvesting from the garden...

Basil

Horseradish

Old Man Saltbush

Zucchini

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Jane & Terry
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden

From lizards to loose teeth! Getting to know you.

Hello families.  Some have referred to me as the new Kim and whilst I may have similar clothes (as one student reflected) I  am pleased to step into the role as the  wellbeing coordinator for 2020. It has been a great start to the year with a warm welcome from  staff, students and  parents whom I have met as well as being nurtured by such abundant fruit bearing trees and nature on the campus . My focus over the next few months is to get to know the students, teachers and families of Winters Flat Primary School and to provide wellbeing support. I look forward to giving families a quick phone call to introduce myself  and hear a  little bit about you.

A little bit about me…

  • Have recently moved from Melbourne to Chewton
  • Love to play with my two children
  • Enjoy singing, dancing, nature walks and sharing meals
  • Have a social work,  play therapy, yoga and massage background

Getting to know the students…

I have enjoyed walking around the grounds to meet the students and they have shared some things about themselves…

  • I am losing my first tooth
  • I love to skateboard and play basketball
  • I live at an art community
  • Look, here is my pet lizard
  • I am sad because I miss my friends who went to another school

I am in my office, I like to call it the play space,  Tuesday and Wednesdays from 9am-3pm and provide support to students, families and teachers around wellbeing. My door is always open so please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns in relation to supporting your child or family.

Belle

Wellbeing Officer

JUNIOR LEARNING COMMUNITY

1/2 A | Florence L

For showing Care for Environment by being a fabulous helper when we are packing up the classroom. Thank you Florence!

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MIDDLE LEARNING COMMUNITY

2/3W | Aurora A

For showing Care for Self by always listening carefully and following directions straight away.

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POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR FOCUS

This week's positive behaviour focus is:

Show care for yourself and others by being positive, getting involved and doing your best.

The following students are recognised for their abilities to do so:

Lola G

Sam G

Seth B

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BEST CLASS ATTENDANCE (CUMALONG CUP)

The class with the best school attendance for the week ending 13th December 2019 was P/1J.

The class with the best school attendance for the week ending 31st January is 1/2A.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY...

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Missy (also known as ‘Dolly ‘) needs a loving home!

A beautiful black and white cat nicknamed ‘Dolly’ has spent the last few years living in a drain in Farnsworth Street having left her home because of other animals. She was fed by locals and loved by a number of Winters Flat students who would drop by the drain to talk to Dolly, stroke her and leave gifts of flowers.

Dolly ended up at the Mount Alexander Animal Shelter so that she could be medically assessed and now she is ready to have a new home.

If interested please contact the Shelter on 5472 5277.

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